Study of a Picture - The Song of the Lark

Notice the fine posture of the young peasant girl in the picture on page 253. It is free and natural, perfectly poised, and full of simple dignity. Notice the position of the feet, on which which the body is balanced firmly and yet lightly. See how the head and the chest are lifted. Look at the poise of the arms. Try to stand as this young girl is standing. The ease and the balance of the position will give you more confidence in speaking.

The figure expresses intent attention. To what is the girl listening? What time of day is it? Why can she hear the song so clearly? What is she doing? Although she is poor and humble, the picture makes us feel that she loves beauty; that her heart is not closed to the color and the music of the world.

Tell the story this picture suggests to you. Think over your story and plan it carefully before you tell it. Do not try to put into words what you wish to say, because you may forget the words and become embarrassed. If you are full of your idea, however, the words will come to you of themselves.

A Talk on Posture

Let

Plan a talk on posture to give in class. Choose a good sentence for the central thought of your talk. the other sentences expand and explain your topic sentence. Be careful of your own posture while you are speaking.

XIII. INTELLIGENT LISTENING AND

READING

How to Listen

Look again at the picture The Song of the Lark on page 253. How does the girl's attitude show that she is listening? Of what do you suppose she is thinking? Of how many things can you think when you are listening? Our minds are somewhat like spotlights; there is always a brightest point to which we give attention. Other objects and ideas are less brightly lighted and cannot be seen so plainly. The spotlight does not remain on one object or idea for long at a time; it is constantly changing its position, as other ideas come. into the attention; but we cannot give close attention to more than one thing at a time, although other things may be in the outer edge or fringe of the mind.

As you listen to a speaker, you should try to keep the spotlight of attention always on his main thought. As he brings out his thought and makes it plain, you should try to follow him, and keep out of mind the thousand other things that are knocking for admittance. Unless you do keep your attention steadily focused on what the speaker is saying, you will not have any clear idea, when he has finished, of what he has said. It is very bad to allow your mind to fall into the habit

CORRECT USAGE

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of wandering without direction wherever it wishes to go. Minds are like children; if they are allowed to wander about wherever they please, they soon become wayward and disobedient.

In listening try to connect the speaker's illustrations and details with his main thought. If he tells a story, see what the story illustrates, and what it has to do with the idea he is trying to develop. Sometimes a listener catches a story, but does not hear anything else the speaker says. He is not likely to remember the story because it is not connected with any other idea.

Exercise

Different pupils may each read a paragraph that is not too hard, while the other pupils listen. At the close of the reading of each paragraph certain pupils should be called on to give the main thought of the paragraph, and any illustrations that serve to bring out the thought.

Correct Usage There, Their

Read the following sentences. See how there and their are used in each sentence:

1. There is my dog.

2. He lives there.

3. There is no one at home.

4. Their father is my uncle.

5. This is their house.

What part of speech is there in the first two sen

tences? In the third sentence there is used merely to

introduce the sentence. No one is the subject of the

sentence.

Their in the fourth and fifth sentences is an adjective. Why?

There and their are often confused in writing. Copy the following sentences, filling the blanks with their or there:

Talks on How to Make Something

Plan a talk before the class in which you will tell clearly how to make something. Tell every necessary point, and leave out all else. Think over the process you are explaining, and give the steps in the right order; that is, tell what to do first, what next, and so on. Be sure that you make your talk so clear that any one who is listening intelligently can learn how to make what you explain.

After each talk another pupil should be called on to repeat the essential points of the talk. It will be necessary to listen in order to repeat what has been said. Try to be intelligent listeners.

Inverted Sentences

Usually the subject of the sentence is placed first, then the predicate verb, and after it the object, if